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| Corrupt rule the roost in J&K, none dares to penalize them | | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
Jammu, Feb 18: Inability to take corrupt officials head-on has raised serious questions about seriousness of Jammu and Kashmir Government in addressing the deep-rooted menace of corruption which has ruined the developmental profile of the State.
Apart from ordering inquiries, State Government has done nothing. The continuance of corrupt officers who have cases pending against them in Crime Branch and State Vigilance Organization (SVC) on plum postings has made the commoners believe that State Government is adopting double standards in handling the corrupt' officers and has miserably failed in giving practical shape to its often-repeated pronouncements on the vital issue of corruption.
According to records available with Early Times, around 449 officers have cases of corruption pending against them in various commissions and courts. A good number of officers from lower rung Non-Gazetted Officers to Secretaries of various departments have their names displayed on the website of State Vigilance Organization (SVO). More than 282 cases of alleged corruption by officials including top bureaucrats have been transferred to SVC by the State Accountability Commission (SAC).
Since the commission has come into being a few days ago, sources said that it is likely to take up these cases in a month's time. They added that nothing has changed in Jammu and Kashmir. Callousness is so deep rooted that officers indicted in various probe reports have not only managed to escape noose but are aspiring to become Omar Abdullah's colleagues in the State legislature. Omar may find the words 'offensive' but it is a stark reality that several corrupt IAS and IFS officers are preparing for Assembly elections to be held in the State.
Omar's commissions and societies have failed to break ice. A senior Congress leader once remarked "Omar seems to have advised not to touch the corrupt Ministers and complete the six year tenure in office. He has been seemingly told not to use stick against powerful Ministers since they can destabilize the Government. Omar has best inputs and hefty record of corrupt practices available but he seems in mood to act." Quoting an example, an official said that two Deputy Commissioners are facing serious charges of corruption and yet continue to look after district administration.
All these officers have been allowed to be District Development Commissioners-cum District Magistrates despite facing serious charges. One of these three officers has been served chargesheet under the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services Rules for tampering his Date of Birth. In his case, the General Administration Department has gathered strong evidence, which prima-facie established that this officer had tampered his date of birth in order to obtain undue benefit of Government service for four years.
Yet no action is forthcoming just because a senior Congress Cabinet Minister is backing him and preventing the State Government from taking him to task.
Another Deputy Commissioner has recently got a case registered against him in district Reasi. A third one is known widely in the official circles for being corrupt and affluent. An IAS officers accused in two scams is heading a recruitment department. Another one, who is involved in several irregularities, has been re-engaged after retirement. Two Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers in whose cases Union Ministry of Forests and Environment has been approached by the State Government seeking sanction to prosecute them in the FIRs registered against them by the Vigilance Organization are holding important posts in the Forest Department.
One of them was booked by the Vigilance Organization for misappropriation of funds while as another had committed irregularities regarding allotment of contract for extraction and transportation of timber. Similarly, another officer who has been facing two vigilance cases is openly taking about being considered for the top job of Director School education (DSE). "An officer who has cases against him should not be given prize posting. There is no dearth of officers in Jammu and Kashmir. Bright and honest should be preferred over corrupt ones," said a senior official. |
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